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2026 WBA Awards for Excellence Rulebook available now
Hello Wisconsin Broadcasters, On behalf of your WBA Awards Committee, we hope you have had a great first half of the year, and that you have been saving your potential entries for this year’s contest. You are a part of the largest state broadcaster awards program in the nation, and we can’t wait to see…
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Ambassador program extends to second UW campus
The WBA campus ambassador program is expanding to a second campus after its pilot year at UW-Oshkosh. Two students at UW-Whitewater will serve as WBA ambassadors starting in the fall semester. The ambassador program was launched in 2025 on the UW-Oshkosh campus with two students: Dylan Przybylski and Jacob Link. The students acted as representatives…
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Wisconsin Broadcaster available now
The September/October issue of Wisconsin Broadcaster is now available. Highlights from this issue:
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Shockleys establish Young Broadcasters Development Fund
WBA Hall of Famers Terry and Sandy Shockley are the founding grantors of the newly established Young Broadcasters Development Fund, aimed at inspiring career building in the broadcast industry. “Our mission with this fund is to inspire and motivate young people to pursue a career in broadcasting,” Terry and Sandy Shockey said. “The rewards are…
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Student scholarship competition underway
Do you know a student who could use assistance with educational expenses? The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Foundation offers three $2,500 scholarships and one $1,500 scholarship. Students who meet eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply for these scholarships. The application process is online. It’s available on the WBA website at wi-broadcasters.org/scholarships Students who have completed at…
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Committee approves police body cameras bill
A draft bill that would establish statewide rules for how police use body cameras and handle requests for access to videos has been approved by a Legislative Study Committee that’s been working on the topic since this summer. The committee voted 9-1 in support of the draft legislation. WISN-TV News… – MORE –
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Strachota remembered for contributions to broadcasting, community involvement
Bernie Strachota is being remembered for his contributions during his 19-year career in Milwaukee radio. The WBA Hall of Fame broadcaster died Sunday. He was 96. Strachota started his career in 1959 at what was then WRIT AM/FM and worked there until 1978. In 1962, he turned WRIT-AM, Milwaukee’s top “Top 40 Hits” station, into…
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Ola returns to Wisconsin
Reporter/anchor Mary Jo Ola is returning to Wisconsin after working at WATN/WLMT in Memphis. Ola said via social media that she’s taken a position as a reporter at WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee. It’s her last week in Memphis. Ola previously worked at WISC-TV in Madison…. – MORE –
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Radio station generates 85K meals during holiday fundraiser
A Milwaukee radio station gathered enough food and cash donations to generate 85,839 meals to feed hungry families this holiday season. 991 The Mix (WMYX) held its 21st annual Stuff the Bus event on Nov. 21 outside a Pick N’ Save store in Wauwatosa to benefit Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. The event was hosted by…
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Time and timing important to avoiding WBA Awards disqualifications
Greetings from the WBA Awards Committee. We have had several meetings since our Awards Gala in May, and I think we have some exciting changes that will help make our next Gala even better. Do you realize that our submissions have increased nearly four-fold over the last 20 years? That is some amazing growth! It’s…
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iHeartMedia Milwaukee debuts FM sports talk station
iHeartMedia Milwaukee announced Tuesday the debut of a new FM sports talk station. 97.3 The Game (WRNW) will broadcast the latest local and national sports news and feature some of the most recognized and respected names and voices in Milwaukee sports. The program lineup will include Drew Olson, former Brewers beat writer and Milwaukee radio host; Ted…
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Thompson awarded first WBA Distinguished Service Award
Former Wisconsin Governor and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson will receive the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association’s first Distinguished Service Award. The award was established to recognize those who “reflect the values embodied in the Wisconsin broadcast industry of promoting economic vitality, engagement in civic affairs, advocacy for the First Amendment and dissemination…
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TV station phone bank breaks fundraising record
A Milwaukee area TV station has broken its own record for money raised during a fundraising drive for local food pantries. WISN-TV partnered with the Hunger Task Force for the seventh year and raised $198,141 during its “Food For Families Phone Bank.” The amount raised is enough to pay for nearly 1,600 holiday meal boxes…
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Paolantonio joins WISN-TV 6 p.m. newscast
Patrick Paolantonio will join Joyce Garbaciak to create the new co-anchor team of WISN 12 News at 6:00 p.m., effective today. The transition follows the retirement of Kathy Mykleby. “Patrick’s been an integral part of our station and anchor teams for more than 15 years, and Joyce has been… – MORE –
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Radio group gets listeners involved in supporting Toys for Tots
A four-station radio group in the Wausau/Stevens Point area is holding a holiday contest that gets listeners involved in supporting Toys For Tots. NRG Media stations Y106.5 (WYTE), 103.3 Classic Rock (WGLX), Hot 96-7 (WHTQ), and Wisconsin’s Big Cheese 107.9 (WBCV) are teaming up with Shopko for Toy Box Tuesday. Hosts on all four stations…
